La Comunidad gets $250K grant to expand health services

“This award will allow us to serve more members of our community and expand the much needed services,” said Margarita Queralt Mirkil, president and chief executive officer of LCH. “About 700 applicants applied for funding and we were one of seven organizations in Pennsylvania selected to receive funding.”

In all, $54.6 million were awarded in Affordable Care Act mental health services funding, according to Paul Dioguardi, director of the Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs for HHS. The awards were announced by HHS Secretary Sylvia Burwell on July 31. The funding went to 221 health centers in 47 states and Puerto Rico to establish or expand behavioral health services for more than 450,000 people.

The funds are to be used to hire new mental health professionals, add mental health and substance use disorder health services, and employ integrated models of primary care, according to Dioguardi.

La Comunidad Hispana was established in 1973 as a community-based nonprofit organization to help low income residents of southern Chester County to stay healthy, build strong families and lead productive lives by providing high-quality, culturally welcoming services. For more information, go to www.lacomunidadhispana.org or call 610-444-7550, ext. 242.